Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-04-13
THE WIDOWS BABY.

tempted to smuggle anything from the
Continent, and fell into the hands o.
Captain Peter Muggins of her British
Majesty's Customs, on landing al
Dover, never forgot the circumstance
The captain was one to vindicate
the honor of the said British Majesty
He was a. short, stout, red-faced, we'll
fed and exceedingly ill-tempered son
of Mars. His martial tread and loud
voiced oaths did not convey the idea
of carpet knight, yet he had never
faced g. foe nor 'sought the bubble
reputation at the lannon's mouth
No. he had contented himself with fill
ing the "Queen's Tobacco-pipe," as
the kiln where contraband goods were
formerly burned was somewhat pro-
fanely styled.
The captain was prepared to . Tx
any one who carried ashore one cigar.
or one inch Of lace, pair of gloves, or
any other item.
Ashestood thus, watching the. coming
ashore Of the passengers with q ''stony
British stare" he espied a lady who
walked with the gentle, appealing, I'M
certain step of a young widow
She was followed by g. nurse, wear
ing the cap and apron OF French
bonne; and in the arms of this nurse
was baby, in long and flowing white
robes.
The captain was on he alert.
The lady came up to him, and,
throwing back her long Grape veil, adj
dressed him Ia deep, musical accents:
41n Nf4 CIV
81 am," responded the captain,
rather grufiy.
Now, the widow was sufficiently
beautiful to disarm even the Immature
OF Captain Muggins, and just the style
of beauty he would be sure to admire.
The widow was beautiful, with q
clear, brown eye-or, rather, two Of
them-velvet lidded, heavy fringed,
full and languid, prone to be cast down
modestly and appraised suddenly, to
the no small confusion of the luckless
male bystander.
She wore the full attire OF woe. A
small Grape bonnet, with slight
frost-work of white under it's brim,
rested on glossy black hair. Such
hair waving and shiny and blue
black.
Her brow, so smooth and broad,
was undisfgured by lunatic fringe or
bang. Her eyebrows were black and
delicate, but straight, not arched.
Her nose might be trlf1e large, but it
was beautifully formed and clearly
chiseled; and her mouth was beauti-
full, the lips so full, so heartlike, in
their proud arch, their coloring so
fresh and rich.
Then her complexion was OF a soft,
rudy, indescribable brunette tint,
impossible to picture IN words, but
wholly charming; her chin was SO
finely moulded, and her throat full
and round.
Altogether. she irascible captain
thought, 1.-The finest woman I've seen
for years!" For the widows form
fully equaled her face, and she was
handsomely dressed.
81 am, madame" he repeated.
"Where is your luggage?"
'fHere it is. ! am alone-that is, with
one exception OF my nurse and baby.
I have to travel so much now, and al
ways alone"
Tears seemed very close to the
widows lovely eyes, and a mourn
fully appealing tone touched even the
ironclad heart of Captain Muggins.
''All right, ma'am, Have nothing
to declare, I SUPPOSE"
'sNothing. Please examine my
trunks, for I long to rest, and my
baby has been quite sea-sick, poor
darling"
The trunks were examined carefully,
for, however fine a woman the widow
might be, "duty before sentiment"
the captains motto.
Nothing was found, and the trunks
were passed.
The widow took the baby from the
nurses arms, and hushed it to sleep,
as 1t had evinced signs Of disquletude
by beginning 10 whimper.
ga fine child, ma am," said the cap
tain, who hated babies like poison.
sis it not beautiful, my Henry?
the image of his dear-oh!" a.
sob completed the sentence.
He was beautiful-at least as much
as could be seen of him, for he was
one mass of lace and embroidery, his
rosy face half concealed by q hlmy
veil.
He is a fine fellow-how old might
he be Z" Inc captain parDOlloU eyes
shone with interest; be admired the
widow more every moment.
ssSeven months to-morrow-poor
little darling to think how much he
has travelled !"
'sHe has, ma am ?"
esYes;by his dear father strange will
I live six weeks in Paris and six
in England alternately"
Rather troublesome for you,
ma'am."
"Oh, don't mind for myself" said
the bewitching widow, with a swift
upward flash of her adorable eyes;
but my poor little boy-fancy, l
might risk his health, might even lose
him." Here she seemed about to give
way to her feelings, but Just then, as
the captain murmured "Oh, | hope
not" sympathetically, the bonne
came to say that the carriage waited,
and with hurried, ''Thank you so
much-good-b by, "the beautiful widow
disappeared.
0Ihi that's something like wo-